מְרִיבָה
𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤁𐤄
Merivah
H4808 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Dispute, contention, or conflict—especially in the sense of verbal altercation or legal quarrel. The term denotes an act or circumstance of arguing, disagreement, or challenge, most frequently in reference to interpersonal, tribal, or communal strife, and prominently in narratives involving the contesting of authority or provision.
Semantic Range
quarrel, contention, dispute, legal strife, verbal altercation, conflict, provocation, place of strife (toponym)
Root / Etymology
The word derives from the root ריב (riv), meaning 'to contend, strive, dispute.' The nominal form מְרִיבָה (merîvāh) is a feminine noun indicating the result or instance of such strife or contention. It connotes quarrel, contention, or legal dispute, often with an emphasis on the process or outcome of conflict.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מְרִיבָה is most often found in the context of disputes or quarrels among individuals (Gen 13:7; Gen 26:20) or between the people and YHWH's appointed leaders (notably Moses at Meribah: Exod 17:7; Num 20:13,24). The term is also connected to forensic contexts—legal argument or court case, though it generally emphasizes the contentious aspect rather than technical legal proceedings (cf. Job 23:4). In major narrative scenes, such as the waters of Meribah, it becomes a toponym commemorating the event of provocation and dispute. Over time, the term retains its focus on open conflict or contentiousness rather than private grievance. English translations often render it as 'strife,' 'quarrel,' or 'contention,' but these do not always capture its legal nuance or its role in Israelite collective memory. The word differs from related terms like מַצָּה (matsah, 'strife, struggle'), which can have a broader or more intense confrontation, and seldom refers specifically to legal or verbal disputes.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רִיב; quarrel; provocation, strife.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
ריב (Yehoyariv) — to contend, strive, dispute, quarrel
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3080 | יְהוֹיָרִיב | to YHWH-contends |
| H3401 | יָרִיב | my contenders |
| H3402 | יָרִיב | and to He-Contends |
| H4809 | מְרִיבָה | contention |
| H7378 | רִיב | I will contend |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4808-03 |
מְרִיבָה֙ | merivah | HNcfsa |
of Meribah | contention | contention | 2 |
H4808-04 |
מְרִיבַ֥ת | merivat | HNcfsc |
Meribah | dispute-of | dispute of | 2 |
H4808-01 |
בִּ/מְרִיבַת֙ | bimerivat | HR/Ncfsc |
in strife-of | in dispute-of | in dispute-of | 1 |
H4808-02 |
כִּ/מְרִיבָ֑ה | kimerivah | HR/Np |
as at Meribah | like a dispute | like Merivah | 1 |
H4808-05 |
מְרִיב֣וֹת | merivot | HNp |
Meriboth | contentions | Merivah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4808-03 |
Genesis 13:8 | מְרִיבָה֙ | merivah | HNcfsa |
strife | contention | contention |
H4808-01 |
Numbers 27:14 | בִּ/מְרִיבַת֙ | bimerivat | HR/Ncfsc |
in strife-of | in dispute-of | in dispute-of |
H4808-04 |
Deuteronomy 32:51 | מְרִיבַ֥ת | merivat | HNcfsc |
Meribah | dispute-of | dispute of |
H4808-05 |
Ezekiel 47:19 | מְרִיב֣וֹת | merivot | HNp |
Meriboth | contentions | Merivah |
H4808-04 |
Ezekiel 48:28 | מְרִיבַ֣ת | merivat | HNcfsc |
of Meribath | dispute-of | dispute-of |
H4808-02 |
Psalms 95:8 | כִּ/מְרִיבָ֑ה | kimerivah | HR/Np |
as at Meribah | like a dispute | like Merivah |
H4808-03 |
Psalms 106:32 | מְרִיבָ֑ה | merivah | HNp |
of Meribah | contention | Merivah |